Published: 8 Feb 2010
Support growing for locked out ILWU miners in Boron, California as 34 Pacific unions condemn Rio Tinto at Vanuatu conference today in the following declaration
Dear ILWU Local 30 members,
Trade unions of the Pacific Islands attending the ILO Tripartite Meeting on development of Decent Work in the Pacific wish to express our full support for and solidarity with the ILWU Boron workers and their families who have been locked out of the Rio Tinto Borax mine.
Rio Tinto has a long history of anti-worker and anti-union behaviour and has an appalling track record of its treatment of workers in both developing and developed nations. Many of the unions in this region have experienced this first hand.
We condemn Rio Tinto for their use of mercenaries and scabs as a replacement workforce in their attempts to destroy hard won conditions in the workers' long-standing union contract.
We the undersigned pledge to raise awareness amongst all of our members in the region and campaign to build support for an ILWU victory over Rio Tinto and stand ready to assist in whatever way we can.
We call on you to continue to stand strong in your brave fight for justice against Rio Tinto.
In solidarity,
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Sharan Burrows President, ITUC President, ACTU |
Peter Conway Secretary, NZCTU |
Mark Davis Deputy Regional Secretary Asia Pacific, ITF |
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Geoff Fary Assistant Secretary, ACTU |
Nick Blake Australian Nurses Association |
Mick Doleman Maritime Union of Australia |
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Dean Summers ITF Coordinator |
Shannon O'Keeffe Australian Transport Unions Federation |
David Carey Community and Public Sector Union |
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E Mitchell Australian Workers Union |
U Falconer Australian Workers Union |
Steven Andersen Air Line Pilots Association |
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Philip van den Heever Air Line Pilots Association |
Zoe Bedford APHEDA |
Helen Maunga Cook Islands Workers Association |
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Felix Anthony Fiji Trade Union Congress |
Rajeshwar Singh Fiji Trade Union Congress |
Teera Bakoauea Kiribati Trade Unions Congress |
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Ioteba Tekee ITF, Kiribati |
Sylvain Meallet New Caledonia CGT-FO |
Gary Parsloe Maritime Union of New Zealand |
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Ray Fife Maritime Union of New Zealand |
John Paska PNG Trade Union Congress |
Michael Malabag PNG Trade Union Congress |
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John Mahuk PNG Maritime and Transport Union |
Taupisioleitoga Faamau Somoa Trade Union Congress |
Alfred Legua Soloman Islands Council of Trade Unions |
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Monica Chaviel Soloman Islands Council of Trade Unions |
Penisimani Epenisa Fifita Tonga Trade Union Congress |
Mele Amanaki PSI |
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Warwick Nokise Tuvalu Overseas Seaman's Union |
Kitiseni Fepuli ITF, Vanuatu |
Ephraim Kalsalu Vanuatu Council of Trade Unions |
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Christian Vaamei Wallis and Futuna, UTFO |
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See also Rio Tinto dispute set to go international
